HMS LADY OF THE ISLES - Cornwall & Devon

The HMS *Lady of the Isles* is a proper piece of Cornish history, sitting upright and surprisingly intact at 50 metres. She started life as a Scillies ferry, then became a salvage vessel, and finally a cable ship before she went down in 1940. We love how her story plays out underwater; you can still see the lines of her ferry days, even with the years of growth on her hull. Descending onto the wreck, you'll feel the chill of the deep Atlantic water, a stark contrast to the lively colours colonising her. Deadman’s fingers bloom from every surface, and the stern, in particular, is a riot of jewel anemones and hydroids. We’ve often seen conger eels poking their heads from inside the collapsed holds, and there are always plenty of squat lobsters scuttling around. This is a dive for experienced technical divers, comfortable with deeper air or mixed gas, who appreciate a wreck with a genuine narrative. Explore her carefully; the visibility here can be challenging, but on a good day, the sight of her masts reaching up into the gloom is something else. Our top tip: dive her on a slack tide, otherwise, you'll be fighting a significant current.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.143917, -4.905417
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
50m

Marine Protected Area: Carricknath Point to Porthbean Beach

Best Time to Dive in Cornwall & Devon

The warmest water temperatures in Cornwall & Devon occur in January, averaging 9.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 9.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 9.6°C (air: 7.3°C)
  • February: 9.6°C (air: 8.4°C)
  • March: 9.6°C (air: 8.6°C)
  • April: 9.6°C (air: 10.1°C)
  • May: 9.6°C (air: 12.6°C)
  • June: 9.6°C (air: 15.2°C)
  • July: 9.6°C (air: 16.6°C)
  • August: 9.6°C (air: 17.1°C)
  • September: 9.6°C (air: 15.9°C)
  • October: 9.6°C (air: 13.5°C)
  • November: 9.6°C (air: 10.7°C)
  • December: 9.6°C (air: 8.7°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Cornwall & Devon

Nearest Dive Centres to HMS LADY OF THE ISLES

Marine Life in Cornwall & Devon

Home to 192 recorded species including 93 reef fish, 18 sharks & rays, 13 whales & dolphins, 11 crabs & lobsters, 11 other, 10 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for HMS LADY OF THE ISLES

Based on average water temperature of 9.6°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 10°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories